Plan needed to end coal plant

My name is Freddy Phillips, and I am a resident of North Chicago. I’m writing to voice my concern about pollution from the coal plant on the lakefront.

This plant is very old and its future is uncertain because Midwest Generation, the company operating the plant, entered bankruptcy at the end of 2012.

The plant is the highest polluter in Lake County, a county that suffers from high rates of asthma: 14 percent of children in Lake County show signs of asthma, and 25 percent to 34 percent of children in Waukegan and North Chicago show signs of it, according to the Lake County Health Department.

The national average is 9 percent.

Growing up, I had a brother and a sister with asthma. Now, as a leader of a nonprofit organization for young people, I have two young members who suffer from asthma.

I think a future without a coal plant on our lakefront is in our communities’ best interests. However, a transition plan is needed to ensure a just transition for the site and the workers. We need your leadership in coming up with that plan to help us move forward.

Freddy Phillips

North Chicago